Internet media company RealNetworks has unveiled a new service melding its two consumer programs, RealPlayerand RealJukebox, into a single product.
The combination has been long expected and marks the latest step by RealNetworks toward the nuts-and-bolts of web content delivery and its effort to compete with arch-rival Microsoft Windows Media Player.
The new product, called RealOne, fuses RealPlayer's audio and video-streaming software with RealJukebox's software, which lets users record, organise and play music on PCs.
"I think it was an inevitable step for them to take. The signs were all pointing in this direction for them to go for an all-in-one player and to derive revenue streams from a subscription service for content rather than a one-time shot for a software upgrade," said Mr Bryan Ma, senior analyst with Internet research firm IDC.
RealNetworks saw sales of its core systems products and advertising revenue fall even as service revenues rose in the most recent quarter. Mr Dave Richards, vice president of consumer systems for RealNetworks, said the new player will first be launched on a free trial basis on Monday.
Within 60 days, a version with advanced features and premium programming will be available for $9.95 a month, with a potentially higher start-up fee.
Mr Richards said the company expects to build on the back of its success with its GoldPass subscription service, which was launched in August 2000 and has over 300,000 subscribers.
Mr Richards also said the content from MusicNet - an online music venture between RealNetworks, AOL Time Warner's Warner Music, EMI Group and Bertelsmann AG's BMG, and independent recording giant Zomba - will be provided on RealOne for an added fee.